(CO) polymers based on vinyl units and use thereof in electroluminescent arrangements

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to (co)polymers which contain at least one repeat chain unit of the general formula (1) or (2) and optionally repeat units of the general formula (3), ##STR1## in which L 1  and L 2  denote a photoluminescent residue, 
     wherein the proportion of structural units of the formulae (1) and/or (2) is in each case 0.5 to 100 mol. % and of (3) is 0 to 99.5 mol. % and the molar percentages add up to 100, 
     to the use thereof for the production of electroluminescent arrangements and to the electroluminescent arrangements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/716,727 filed on Sep. 23, 1996 in the names of Yun Chen et al. which became U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,945 on Sep. 15, 1998.

Light-emitting components for electronics and photonics are today mainly developed using inorganic semiconductors, such as gallium arsenide. Punctual display elements may be produced using such substances. Arrangements of a large area are not possible.

In addition to semiconductor light emitting diodes, electroluminescent arrangements based on vapour-deposited low molecular weight compounds are also known (U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,507, U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,262, U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,142, EP-A 406 762). With these materials too, as a consequence of the production process, it is only possible to produce small LEDs. Furthermore, these electroluminescent arrangements have elevated production costs and only a very short service life.

Polymers such as poly(p-phenylenes) and poly(p-phenylene-vinylenes) are described as electroluminescent: Adv. Mater. 4 (1992) no. 1; J Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1992, pages 32-34; Polymer, 1990, volume 31, 1137; Physical Review B, volume 42, no. 18, 11670 or WO 90/13148.

In contrast to the fully conjugated polymers, non fully conjugated poly-condensation products with luminescent structural units are described in electroluminescent arrangements (Macromol. Chem. Phys. 195, 2023-2037 (1994)).

The present invention provides polymers for the production of electroluminescent arrangements, which polymers are based on a well known basic structure, such as polystyrene and polyacrylate with covalently bonded luminophoric units in the side chains. Due to their simple production process and ready processability, such polymers are of technical interest with regard to use as electroluminescent materials. Electroluminescent arrangements containing these (co)polymers, are distinguished by elevated luminosity and a wide range of colour hues. The advantages of the (co)polymers according to the invention are, for example, that

1. luminous intensity may purposefully be modified by varying the concentration of luminophore,

2. colour hues may be adjusted by combining various monomers containing luminophores,

3. the morphology and electrical properties of the polymer layers may be optimised by incorporating appropriate side-chain units.

The present invention relates to (co)polymers which contain at least one repeat chain unit of the general formula (1) or (2) and optionally repeat units of the general formula (3), ##STR2## in which R¹, R² and R³ mutually independently mean hydrogen or C₁ -C₆ alkyl,

M denotes CN or C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ (di)alkyl-aminocarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, which may each be substituted by hydroxy or C₁ -C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, and furthermore denotes phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, pyridyl or carbazolyl, which may each be substituted by residues from the group halogen, hydroxy, silyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ acyloxy and C₁ -C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl,

L¹ and L² mutually independently mean a photoluminescent residue,

wherein the proportion of structural units of the formula (3) is 0 to 99.5, preferably 40 to 99.5 mol. %, and the proportion of structural units of the formula (1) and/or (2) is in each case 0.5 to 100, preferably 0.5 to 60 mol. % and the molar proportions add up to 100%.

In the above-stated formulae, R¹, R² and R³ mutually independently preferably mean hydrogen, methyl or ethyl.

M preferably denotes CN or C₁ -C₁₅ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₁₅ (di)alkylaminocarbonyl, C₁ -C₁₅ alkylcarbonyl, which may each be substituted by hydroxy or methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, n- or iso-propoxycarbonyl, and furthermore denotes phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, pyridyl or carbazolyl, which may each be substituted by residues selected from the group chlorine, bromine, hydroxy, silyl, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ acyloxy and C₁ -C₆ alkylcarbonyl, phenyl optionally substituted by methyl, ethyl, n- or iso-propyl.

L¹ and L² mutually independently denote a photoluminescent residue which is based on the skeleton of a fluorescent dye which is selected from the group of coumarins of the formula (4) ##STR3## pyrenes of the formula (5) ##STR4## 1,8-naphthalimides of the formula (6) ##STR5## 1,8-naphthaloylene-1',2'-benzimidazoles of the formula (7a) and (7b) ##STR6## phenothiazines or phenoxazines of the formula (8) ##STR7## where X¹ =O or S, benzopyrones of the formula (9) ##STR8## carbazoles, fluorenes, dibenzothiophenes and -furans of the formula (10) ##STR9## where X² =NR²³, CH₂, S or O, wherein R²³ denotes hydrogen or C₁ -C₆ alkyl, preferably hydrogen or C₁ -C₄ alkyl,

oxazoles, 1,3,4-oxadiazoles of the formula (11) ##STR10## where X³ =CH or N benzoquinolines of the formula (12) ##STR11## 9,10-bis-(phenylethynyl)anthracenes of the formula (13) ##STR12## fluorones of the formula (14) ##STR13## 9,10-diphenylanthracene of the formula (15) ##STR14## 2-styrylbenzazole of the formula (16) ##STR15## where X⁴ =O, S, Se or CH₂, wherein

R⁴ denotes hydrogen, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl or C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy or ##STR16## R⁴³ and R⁴⁴ mutually independently denote hydrogen, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, or,

R⁴³ and R⁴⁴, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, may mean a morpholine, piperidine, pyrrolidine or piperazine ring, which may bear one or two substituents from the group methyl, ethyl and phenyl,

R⁵ denotes hydrogen, cyano, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₃₄ aralkyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, C₂ -C₁₂ acyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₁₂ (di)alkylaminocarbonyl,

R⁶ denotes hydrogen, cyano, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl C₇ -C₃₄ aralkyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy or ##STR17## wherein Z denotes a group OR⁴⁵ or ##STR18## R⁴⁵, R⁴⁶ and R⁴⁷ mutually independently denote C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl or C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, wherein the aromatic rings may additionally be substituted by halogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy,

R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹ mutually independently mean hydrogen, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, cyano, C₂ -C₁₂ acyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₁₂ (di)alkylaminocarbonyl or an amino group with one or two C₁ -C₆ alkyl groups,

R¹⁰ denotes hydrogen, cyano, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, amino, C₂ -C₁₂ acyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₁₂ (di)alkylaminocarbonyl,

R¹¹ denotes hydrogen, halogen, nitro, C₁ -C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₄ acyl, C₈ -C₂₄ aralkenyl, unsubstituted amino, or amino identically or differently mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl or C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl,

R¹¹ furthermore denotes morpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl or piperazinyl, which may bear one or two substituents selected from methyl, ethyl and/or phenyl,

R¹² denotes hydrogen, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl or C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy,

R¹³ denotes hydrogen, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₃₄ aralkyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy or ##STR19## wherein R⁴⁹ and R⁵⁰ mutually independently denote C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl or,

R⁴⁹ and R⁵⁰, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, denote morpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl or piperazinyl, which may bear one or two identical or different substituents selected from methyl, ethyl and phenyl,

R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ mutually independently mean hydrogen, cyano, halogen, nitro, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl or C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxycarbonyl, C₂ -C₁₂ acyl, C₁ -C₁₂ (di)alkylaminocarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ (di)alkylamino,

R¹⁷ and R²³ mutually independently mean hydrogen, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl or C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl and

R¹⁶, R¹⁸ to R²², R²⁴ to R⁴⁰ mutually independently mean hydrogen, cyano, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, an amino group with one or two C₁ -C₆ alkyl groups, unsubstituted amino, C₂ -C₁₂ acyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxycarbonyl or C₁ -C₁₂ (di)alkylaminocarbonyl, wherein the aliphatic carbon chains, such as for example alkyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, aralkyl, in the residues R⁴ to R¹³, R¹⁶ to R⁴⁰ may be interrupted by one or more, preferably one or two heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur and/or by one or more, preferably one or two phenylene rings, which may be substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl and/or halogen,

and wherein furthermore the luminophore is attached to the polymer side chains via an oxygen of a hydroxy or carboxy group or a nitrogen of an amino or primary amino group on the above-stated substituents.

In the above-stated residues R⁴ to R⁴⁰, for each fluorescent dye, at least one aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic carbon chain bears at least one hydroxy group, by means of which the covalent bond to the monomer is produced by reacting these groups with a reactive group located on the monomer (for example halogen), c.f. production process. In the case of monomer (1), this attachment site is the methylene group on the phenyl ring (--CH₂ --Cl reacts). In the case of monomer (2), the attachment site is the carbonyl group (via --CO--Cl).

M in particular denotes phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, pyridyl or carbazolyl, which may each be substituted by hydroxy, silyl, C₁ -C₄ alkyl, phenyl optionally substituted by methyl, ethyl, n- or iso-propyl, by C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ acyloxy or C₁ -C₆ alkylcarbonyl.

L¹ and L² in particular mutually independently denote a fluorescent dye residue selected from the group of coumarins of the formula (4), pyrenes of the formula (5), 1,8-naphthalimides of the formula (6), 1,8-naphthaloylene-1',2'-benzimidazoles of the formula (7), phenothiazines or phenoxazines of the formula (8), carbazoles and fluorenes of the formula (10).

The present invention also relates to a process for the production of the above-stated (co)polymers which contain at least one repeat chain unit of the general formula (1) or (2) and optionally repeat units of the general formula (3), ##STR20## wherein the residues have the above-stated meanings, wherein the corresponding monomers of the formula (20) or (21) ##STR21## are produced from a fluorescent dye functionalised with an OH group, which dye contains the structure of L,

and from a styrene or acrylic acid derivative of the formula (22) and (23) ##STR22## in which R¹ and R² have the above-stated meaning and

R⁴¹ and R⁴² denote a halogen atom, preferably Cl or Br,

in the presence of a base, preferably triethylamine, pyridine or an alkali metal alkoxide, and these are then polymerised, optionally in the presence of comonomers of units according to the formula (3).

The reaction with the OH-group functionalised fluorescent dyes generally proceeds at temperatures of -30° C. to 100° C., preferably of 0° C. to 60° C.

The polymerisation processes are described in the literature. They may proceed by ionic or free-radical methods. Anionic polymerisation may, for example, be initiated by initiators such as butyllithium or lithium naphthalide. Free-radical polymerisation may, for example, be initiated by free-radical initiators, such as for example azo initiators or peroxides, preferably AIBN (azoisobutyrodinitrile) or dibenzoyl peroxide. The polymers may be produced by bulk polymerisation or by polymerisation in suitable solvents, such as benzene, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, ethyl acetate, xylene, chlorobenzene, 1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate, chlorinated hydrocarbons, acetone, etc. at temperatures of 20-250° C.

Production of the (co)polymers according to the invention may be represented, for example, by the following reaction scheme: ##STR23##

In this scheme, the styrene derivative (26) is initially produced starting from 3-(6-hydroxyhexoxycarbonyl)-7-diethylaminocoumarin (24) and 4-(dimethylchlorosilyl)-styrene (25) in the presence of triethylamine at 0° C. to room temperature. The styrene derivative (26) may be polymerised in the presence of 9-vinylcarbazole (27) as comonomer together with AIBN as free-radical initiator in toluene at 100° C. to form the copolymer (28). The preferred proportion by weight x of comonomer (26) is between 0.5 and 50%.

The polymers (31) or (34) may be produced in a similar manner in the following reaction scheme starting from 4/5-(N-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl)-amino-1,8-naphthoylene-1',2'-benzimidazole (29) or N-isoamyl-4-(N'-methyl-N'-hydroxyethyl)-amino-1,8-naphthalimide (32), the styrene derivatives (30) or (33): ##STR24##

(Co)polymers of the present invention have molecular weights, determined by gel permeation chromatography, in the range from 500 to 1 million g/mol, preferably of 800 to 500000 g/mol.

Some of the OH-functionalised fluorescent dyes (c.f. definition of residue L) required for the production of the (co)polymers according to the invention are known (A. T. Holohan et al., Macromol. Chem. Phys. 195, 2965-2979 (1994)).

The coumarin derivatives of the following formula (4a) are novel and the subject matter of a separate application (DE 1 9505 940.9 of Feb. 21, 1995): ##STR25## wherein R⁴³ and R⁴⁴ mutually independently denote hydrogen, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, which may each be substituted by hydroxy or C₁ -C₄ alkoxycarbonyl or

R⁴³ and R⁴⁴, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, may mean a morpholine, piperidine, pyrrolidine or piperazine ring, which may bear one or two substituents from the group methyl, ethyl and phenyl, and

Z denotes a group OR⁴⁵ or ##STR26## wherein R⁴⁵ means C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl or C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, which are each substituted by at least one hydroxy group, and wherein the aromatic rings may additionally be substituted by halogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy and

R⁴⁶ and R⁴⁷ mutually independently denote C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl or C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, each optionally hydroxy-substituted, wherein at least one of the residues R⁴⁶ and R⁴⁷ has a hydroxy group and wherein aromatic rings may additionally be substituted by halogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy.

The coumarin derivatives of the formula (4a) according to the invention bear at least one hydroxy group, by means of which they may be chemically bonded to the polymer side chains.

In the formula (4a), R⁴³ and R⁴⁴ mutually independently preferably denote hydrogen or C₁ -C₁₆ alkyl, optionally substituted by hydroxy and/or C₁ -C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, or phenyl, naphthyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or naphthyl-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl each unsubstituted or substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, hydroxy, amino, carboxy, C₁ -C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, chlorine and/or bromine.

R⁴³ and R⁴⁴ in particular denote C_(1-C) ₆ alkyl or phenyl optionally substituted by hydroxy,

Z in the above-stated formula (4a) denotes OR⁴⁵ or NR⁴⁶ R⁴⁷, wherein R⁴⁵ preferably denotes C₁ -C₁₆ alkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or naphthyl-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, which are each substituted by at least one hydroxy group, and wherein the aromatic rings may additionally be substituted by halogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy,

R⁴⁶ and R⁴⁷ mutually independently preferably denote C₁ -C₁₆ alkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or naphthyl-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, each optionally substituted by hydroxy, wherein at least one of the residues R⁴ and R⁵ has a hydroxy group and wherein the aromatic rings may additionally also be substituted by halogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl C₁ -C₆ alkoxy.

R⁴⁵ particularly preferably denotes a C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl substituted by a hydroxy group.

R⁴⁶ and R⁴⁷ mutually independently particularly preferably denote C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl optionally substituted by a hydroxy group, wherein at least one of the residues R⁴ and R⁵ has a hydroxy group.

The novel coumarin derivatives of the formula (4a), ##STR27## wherein R⁴³, R⁴⁴ and Z have the above-stated meaning, may be produced by,

a) in the event that Z denotes --OR⁴⁵, producing the malonic acid derivative of the formula (III) ##STR28## preferably in a single vessel process from the Meldrum's acid of the formula (I) ##STR29## and an alcohol of the formula (II) R⁴⁵ --OH (II)

optionally in the presence of a diluent, such as for example toluene, xylene or mesitylene with catalysis by, for example, p-toluenesulphonic acid at temperatures in the range from 20 to 250° C., preferably from 80 to 150° C.,

and then reacting this malonic acid derivative with a salicylic aldehyde of the formula (IV) ##STR30## wherein R⁴³, R⁴⁴ and R⁴⁵ have the above-stated meaning, optionally in the presence of a diluent, such as for example toluene, xylene, mesitylene, with catalysis by, for example, piperidine acetate at temperatures of 50 to 250° C., preferably of 80 to 140° C., and,

b) in the event that Z denotes ##STR31## by reacting a salicylic aldehyde of the formula (IV), a secondary amine of the formula (V) and a malonic acid derivative of the formula (VI) ##STR32## in which R⁴³, R⁴⁴, R⁴⁶ and R⁴⁷ have the above-stated meaning and

R⁴⁸ denotes C₁ -C₆ alkyl,

optionally in the presence of a diluent, such as for example toluene, xylene or mesitylene, with catalysis by, for example, piperidine acetate at temperatures of 50 to 250° C., preferably of 80 to 140° C.

When performing the process a) according to the invention, 2-10 mol, preferably 3-6 mol of alcohol of the formula (II) are generally used for each mol of Meldrum's acid of the formula (I), and 0.5-1.0 mol, preferably 0.9-1.0 mol of salicylic aldehyde of the formula (IV) is generally used per mol of malonic acid derivative of the formula (III).

When performing the process b) according to the invention, 2-20 mol, preferably 5-10 mol of secondary amine and 1-2, preferably 1.2-1.5 mol of malonic acid derivative of the formula (VI) are generally used per mol of salicylic aldehyde of the formula (IV).

Production of the coumarin derivatives of the formula (4a), where Z=OR⁴⁵, by way of a Knoevenagel condensation reaction and subsequent cyclisation is illustrated by way of example by the following reaction scheme: ##STR33##

In this scheme, bis-(6-hydroxyhexyl) malonate is first produced by reacting the Meldrum's acid and 1,6-hexanediol in the presence of catalytic quantities of p-toluenesulphonic acid with elimination of acetone and water. The bis-(6-hydroxyhexyl) malonate is then combined with 4-diethylaminosalicylic aldehyde in the presence of catalytic quantities of piperidine acetate to form the desired 3-(6-hydroxyhexoxycarbonyl)-7-diethylaminocoumarin.

Production of the coumarin derivatives of the formula (4a), where Z=NR⁴⁶ R⁴⁷, is illustrated by way of example by the following reaction scheme: ##STR34##

In this scheme, 4-diethylaminosalicylic aldehyde is reacted with diethyl malonate and 2-(methylamino)ethanol in the presence of catalytic quantities of piperidine acetate. The desired 3- (N-hydroxyethyl-N-methyl)aminocarbonyl!-7-diethylaminocoumarin is obtained.

The starting products of the formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V) and (VI) are compounds which are generally known in organic chemistry.

The following 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives of the formulae (6a), (7a-1) and (7b-1) are also novel and the subject matter of a separate patent application DE 1 9505 941.7 of Feb. 21, 1995: ##STR35## in which R^(11') denotes hydrogen, halogen, nitro, C₁ -C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₄ acyl, C₈ -C₂₄ aralkenyl, unsubstituted amino or amino identically or differently mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, wherein the above-stated carbon chains may themselves be substituted by hydroxy,

R^(11') furthermore denotes morpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl or piperazinyl, which may bear one or two substituents selected from methyl, ethyl and/or phenyl,

R^(12') denotes hydrogen or C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl or C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, which may be mono or polysubstituted by hydroxy,

and at least one of the residues R^(11') or R^(12') has a hydroxy group,

R^(49') and R^(50') mutually independently denote C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, which may be substituted by hydroxy, wherein at least one of the residues R^(49') or R^(50') has a hydroxy group.

R^(49') and R^(50'), together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, moreover denote morpholinyl, piperidyl, pyrrolidyl or piperazinyl, which may bear one or two identical or different substituents selected from methyl, ethyl and phenyl, and have at least one hydroxy group,

R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ mutually independently mean hydrogen, halogen, cyano, halogen, nitro, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₇ -C₂₄ aralkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxycarbonyl, C₂ -C₁₂ acyl or C₁ -C₆ (di)alkylamino.

The 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives of the formulae (6a), (7a-1) and (7b-1) according to the invention bear at least one hydroxy group, by means of which they may be chemically bonded to the polymer side chains.

In the above-stated formula (6a),

R¹¹ preferably denotes hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, nitro, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, n- or iso-propoxycarbonyl, methylcarbonyl, ethylcarbonyl, n- or iso-propylcarbonyl, amino, amino identically or differently mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₁₅ alkyl, or phenyl, naphthyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or naphthyl-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, in each case optionally substituted by methyl and/or ethyl, wherein the above-stated carbon chains may themselves by substituted by hydroxy, R^(11') furthermore preferably denotes morpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl or piperazinyl, which may bear one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, methyl, ethyl and/or phenyl.

R^(12') preferably denotes hydrogen or C₁ -C₁₅ alkyl, phenyl or phenyl-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, which may be substituted by hydroxy and the aromatic rings may additionally also be substituted by halogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl and/or C₁ -C₆ alkoxy.

R^(11') in particular denotes chlorine, bromine, amino which is identically or differently mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₁₅ alkyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl or piperazinyl, wherein the above-stated carbon chains may themselves by substituted by hydroxy.

R^(12') in particular denotes C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, phenyl optionally substituted by halogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl and/or C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, which may bear a hydroxy group.

At least one of the residues R^(11') and R^(12') must have a hydroxy group.

R^(49') and R^(50') in the formulae (7a-1) and (7b-1) preferably mutually independently preferably denote C₁ -C₁₅ alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, naphthyl, naphthyl-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, which may be mono- or poly-, in particular mono-substituted by hydroxy or carboxy, wherein at least one of the residues R^(49') or R^(50') has a hydroxy group.

R^(49') and R^(50'), together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, moreover preferably denote piperidinyl or piperazinyl, which may bear one or two identical or different substituents selected from methyl, ethyl and phenyl, and have at least one hydroxy or carboxy group,

R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ in the formulae (7a-1) and (7b-1) mutually independently preferably denote hydrogen, halogen, C₁ -C₁₅ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₅ alkoxy, C₁ -C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₄ acyl or di(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)amino, or phenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, naphthyl or naphthyl-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl in each case substituted by methyl and/or ethyl.

R^(49') and R^(50') in particular denote C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁ -C₆ alkyl, which may be substituted by a hydroxy group, wherein at least one of the residues R^(49') and R^(50') has a hydroxy group.

R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ in particular denote hydrogen, halogen, C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ alkoxy, di(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)amino, phenyl.

The number of hydroxy groups is at least one, but there may also be up to four hydroxy groups.

The aromatic rings in the above-stated residues may be identically or differently mono- to penta-, preferably mono- to trisubstituted by the stated substituents.

The aliphatic carbon chains, such as for example alkyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, aralkyl, in R⁴³, R⁴⁴, R⁴⁵, R⁴⁶ and R⁴⁷, R^(11'), R^(12'), R^(45'), R^(50') may be interrupted by one or more, preferably one or two, heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur and/or by one or more, preferably one or two, phenylene rings, which may be substituted by C₁ -C₄ alkyl and/or halogen.

A process for the production of novel 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives of the formula (6a) ##STR36## in which R^(11') and R^(12') have the above-stated meaning,

is characterised in that either

a) a 1,8-naphthalic anhydride of the formula (VII) and a primary amine of the formula (VIII), ##STR37## are reacted together at temperatures of 50 to 250° C., preferably of 90 to 140° C., optionally in the presence of diluents, such as for example acetic acid, butanol, chlorobenzene, toluene or xylene or,

b) in the event that R^(11') in formula (6a) means an unsubstituted, mono- or disubstituted amino or cyclic amino, a 1,8-naphthalimide of the formula (6a-1) ##STR38## in which R^(11") denotes halogen, preferably chlorine, bromine or iodine, or nitro,

which is produced from a 1,8-naphthalic anhydride of the formula (VIIa) and a primary amine of the formula (VIII) ##STR39## in which R^(11") and R^(12') have the above-stated meaning, at temperatures of 50 to 250° C., preferably of 90 to 140° C., optionally in the presence of diluents, such as for example acetic acid, butanol, chlorobenzene, toluene or xylene,

and the resultant compound of the formula (6a-1) is then reacted with a primary or secondary amine or piperidine, morpholine, pyrrolidine or piperazine, which may bear one or two substituents selected from methyl, ethyl and/or phenyl, or with an aqueous ammonia solution, optionally in the presence of solvents, such as for example methoxyethanol or butanol, with catalysis by, for example, a copper(II) salt at temperatures of 50 to 250° C., preferably of 100 to 150° C.

A process for the production of novel 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives of the formula (7a-1) and (7b-1) (process C), ##STR40## in which, R¹⁴, R¹⁵, R^(49') and R^(50') have the above-stated meaning,

wherein a 1,8-naphthalimide derivative of the formula (IXa and b), ##STR41## in which R¹⁴, R¹⁵ and R^(11") have the above-stated meaning,

is produced from a 1,8-naphthalic anhydride of the formula (VIIa) ##STR42## in which R^(11") has the above-stated meaning, and an o-phenylenediamine of the formula (X) ##STR43## in which R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ have the above-stated meanings, at temperatures of 50 to 250° C., preferably of 90 to 140° C., optionally in the presence of solvents, such as for example acetic acid, butanol, chlorobenzene, toluene or xylene and the 1,8-naphthalimide derivative of the formula (IXa and b) is then reacted with a secondary amine of the formula (XI), ##STR44## in which R^(49') and R^(50') have the above-stated meaning, optionally in the presence of a solvent, such as for example methoxyethanol or butanol, with catalysis by, for example, a copper(II) salt at temperatures of 50 to 250° C., preferably of 100 to 150° C.

When performing the process a) according to the invention for the production of the 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives of the formula (6a), 1 to 1.8 mol, preferably 1.2 to 1.4 mol of primary amine of the formula (VIII) are generally used per mol of compound of the formula (VII).

When performing the process b) according to the invention for the production of the 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives of the formula (6a-1), 1 to 1.8 mol, preferably 1.2 to 1.4 mol of the primary amine of the formula (VIII) are generally used per mol of compound of the formula (VIIa) and 1.2 to 5 mol, preferably 2 to 2.5 mol of the corresponding primary, secondary or cyclic amine are used per mol of compound of the formula (6a-1).

Production of the 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives of the formula (6a), processes (a) and (b), according to the invention is illustrated by way of example by the following reaction scheme: ##STR45##

In this scheme, the 4-chloro-N-hydroxyethyl-1,8-naphthalimide is first produced by the reaction of 4-chloronaphthalic anhydride and 2-aminoethanol. The 4-chloro-N-hydroxyethyl-1,8-naphthalimide is then combined with piperidine in the presence of a catalytic quantity of a copper(II) salt to form the desired N-hydroxyethyl-4-piperidino-1,8-naphthalimide.

When performing the process C) according to the invention for the production of the 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives of the formula (7a-1) and (7b-1), 1to 1.8 mol, preferably 1.2 to 1.4 mol of the o-phenylenediamine of the formula (X) are generally used per mol of compound of the formula (VIIa) and 1.2 to 5 mol, preferably 2 to 2.5 mol of the secondary amine of the formula (XI) are generally used per mol of compound (IXa-b).

Production of the 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives according to the invention of the formulae (7a-1 and 7b-1) is illustrated by way of example by the following reaction scheme: ##STR46##

In this scheme, the 4/5-chloro-1,8-naphthoylene-1',2'-benzimidazole, which occurs as an isomeric mixture (approx. 3:1), is first produced by the reaction of 4-chloronaphthalic anhydride and o-phenylenediamine. The 4/5-chloro-1,8-naphthoylene-1',2'-benzimidazole is then combined with 2-(methylamino)ethanol in the presence of a catalytic quantity of a copper(II) salt to form the desired 4/5-(N-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl)amino-1,8-naphthoylene-1',2'-benzimidazole.

The starting compounds of the formulae (VII), (VIII), (VIIa), (X) and (XI) for the production of the compounds of the formula according to the invention are generally known compounds in organic chemistry.

The styrene and acrylic acid derivatives of the formulae (22) and (23) which are also necessary for the production of the (co)polymers according to the invention are generally known compounds.

The (co)polymers according to the invention are distinguished by their luminescent properties and film-forming capacity and may be applied onto suitable substrates by casting, knife coating or spin coating. The products exhibit photoluminescence on irradiation both in solutions and as films. The (co)polymers of the present invention are suitable for the production of electroluminescent displays.

The invention thus relates to the use of the (co)polymers described above in the luminescent layer of an electroluminescent arrangement, which is characterised in

that an electroluminescent layer is located between two electrodes,

that at least one of the two electrodes is transparent in the visible range of the spectrum,

that light in the frequency range of 200 to 2000 nm is emitted when a direct voltage in the range of 0.1 to 100 volts is applied,

that one or more interlayers may additionally be arranged between the electroluminescent layer and the electrodes.

These interlayers are known from the literature (c.f. Appl. Phys. Lett., 57, 531 (1990)) and are described therein as HTL (hole transport layer) and ETL (electron transport layer). The purpose of such interlayers is inter alia to increase the intensity of electroluminescence.

The electroluminescent polymers according to the invention may, however, also be used in the electroluminescent layer as a mixture with each other or with at least one further material. This further material may be an inert binder, charge transporting substances as described in EP-A 532 798 or EP-A 564 224, mixtures of inert binders and charge transporting substances.

The mixtures of the polymers according to the invention and a further material are distinguished inter alia that they are film-forming and may be applied in large areas onto suitable substrates by casting, knife coating or spin coating. Suitable substrates are transparent supports such as glass or plastic films (for example polyester, such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, polysulphone, polyimide films).

The inert binder preferably comprises soluble, transparent polymers, such as for example polycarbonates, polystyrene, polyvinylpyridine, polymethylphenylsiloxane and polystyrene copolymers such as SAN, polysulphones, polyacrylates, polyvinylcarbazole, polymers and copolymers of vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol.

EXAMPLES Example 1

1. Production of 3-(6-hydroxyhexoxycarbonyl)-7-diethylaminocoumarin, Formula (24)

A solution of bis-(6-hydroxyhexyl) malonate in 1,6-hexanediol is prepared on heating a mixture of 21.6 g (0.15 mol) of Meldrum's acid, 59 g (0.50 mol) of 1,6-hexanediol and 0.28 g (1.5 mmol) of p-toluene-sulphonic acid monohydrate for 2 hours at 140° C. The resultant solution is then combined with 26.0 g (0.135 mol) of 4-diethylaminosalicylic aldehyde, 0.7 ml of piperidine and 0.1 ml of acetic acid. The reaction mixture is stirred for 3 hours at 110° C. and, once cool, is combined with 300 ml of water. The suspension is extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase is evaporated and the residue recrystallised from toluene. 40.2 g (83%) of 3-(6-hydroxyhexoxycarbonyl)-7-diethylaminocoumarin are obtained as yellow crystals with a melting point of 85 to 86° C.

2. Production of 3- 6-(sty-4-ryldimethylsilyloxy)hexoxycarbonyl)!-7-diethylaminocoumarin, Formula (26)

1.73 g (8.8 mmol) of 4-(chlorodimethylsilyl)styrene (25) are added dropwise with stirring and cooling with iced water to a solution of 2.89 g (8.0 mmol) of 3-(6-hydroxyhexoxycarbonyl)-7-diethylaminocoumarin (24) and 0.93 g (9.2 mmol) of freshly distilled triethylamine in 15 ml of dry methylene chloride. The reaction mixture is stirred for 5 hours at room temperature. The suspension is then suction filtered and the solution evaporated under a vacuum. The crude product is purified by column chromatography (4 g, 96% of theoretical).

3. Production of Copolymer (28) in Which x=1 Mol. %, y=99 Mol. %

A solution of 0.10 g (0.19 mol) 3- 6-(sty-4-ryldimethylsilyloxy)hexoxycarbonyl)!-7-diethylaminocoumarin (26), 3.67 g (0.019 mol) of 9-vinylcarbazole (27) and 30 mg (0.18 mmol) of AIBN in 5 g of dry toluene is degassed and then stirred under nitrogen for 3 hours at 100° C. The polymerisation mixture is then reinitiated with 30 mg of AIBN in three portions within 2 hours. The solution is then added dropwise with stirring to 100 ml of methanol and the suspension is then suction filtered. The crude product is precipitated twice more from a dichloromethane/methanol mixture. 3 g of the desired product is obtained (80% of theoretical).

4. Production of an Electroluminescent Arrangement

ITO-coated glass (manufactured by Balzers) is cut into substrates of dimensions 20×30 mm and cleaned. Cleaning is performed in the following sequence of stages:

1. 15 minutes' rinsing in distilled water and Falterol in ultrasound bath,

2. 2×15 minutes' rinsing in ultrasound bath, each time with fresh distilled water,

3. 15 minutes' rinsing with ethanol in ultrasound bath,

4. 2×15 minutes' rinsing in ultrasound bath, each time with fresh acetone,

5. drying on lint-free lens cleaning cloths.

A 1% solution of the polymer (28) in 1,2-dichloroethane is filtered (0.2 μm filter, Sartorius). The filtered solution is distributed on the ITO glass with a spin coater at 1000 rpm.

The film produced in this manner is then provided with Al electrodes by vapour deposition. To this end, isolated 3 mm diameter dots of Al are vapour-deposited onto the film using a perforated mask. A pressure of below 10⁻⁵ mbar prevails in the vapour deposition device (Leybold) during deposition.

The ITO layer and the Al electrode are connected to an electrical supply via electrical supply lines. When the voltage is increased, an electric current flows through the arrangement and the described layer electroluminesces in blue. Electroluminescence here occurs irrespective of the polarity of the applied voltage.

Example 2

1. Production of N-isoamyl-4-(N'-methyl-N'-hydroxyethyl)amino-1,8-naphthalimide, Formula (32)

A mixture of 46.6 g (0.20 mol) of 4-chloro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride, 21 g (0.24 mol) of isoamylamine and 250 ml of acetic acid is refluxed with stirring for 2 hours. The solution is cooled to room temperature and then combined with 2 l of water. The suspension is filtered and, after drying, 60 g (99% of theoretical) of 4-chloro-N-isoamyl-1,8-naphthalimide are obtained.

A mixture of 30 g (0.10 mol) of 4-chloro-N-isoamyl-1,8-naphthalimide, 22.5 g (0.30 mol) of 2-(methylamino)ethanol, 2.0 g of copper(II) sulphate and 150 ml of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether is refluxed with stirring for 2 hours. Once cool, the solution is largely evaporated and then treated with 150 ml of water. The suspension is extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase is evaporated and the residue recrystallised from toluene. 24.5 g (71% of theoretical) of N-isoamyl-4-(N'-methyl-N'-hydroxyethyl)amino-1,8-naphthalimide (32) are obtained as brown crystals (melting point 117.0-117.5° C).

2. Production of N-isoamyl-4- N'-methyl-N'-methyl-N'-(2-sty-4-ryldimethylsilyloxyethyl)!amino-1,8-naphthalimide (33)

In a similar manner to the method described in Example 1, point 2, the styrene derivative (33) is obtained at a yield of 94% starting from N-isoamyl-4-(N'-methyl-N'-hydroxyethyl)amino-1,8-naphthalimide (32) and 4-(chlorodimethylsilyl)styrene (25).

3. Production of the Homopolymer, Formula (34)

In a similar manner to the method described in Example 1, point 3, 1.55 g (91% of theoretical) of the homopolymer (34) may be produced from 1.71 g (3.4 mmol) of N-isoamyl-4- N'-methyl-N'-(2-sty-4-ryldimethylsilyloxyethyl)!-amino-1,8-naphthalimide (33) and a total of 24 mg (0.15 mmol) of AIBN with toluene as the solvent.

Example 3

1. Production of 4/5-N-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl)amino-1,8-naphthoylene-1',2'-benzimidazole of the Formula (29)

In a similar manner to the method according to Example 2, point 1, 4-chloro-1,8-naphthoylene-1',2'-benzimidazole is obtained from 4-chloro-1,8-naphthalic acid anhydride and o-phenylene diamine at a yield of 87%, and 4/5-(N-methy-N-hydroxyethyl)amino-1,8-naphtoylene-1',2'-benzimidazole (29) from 4-chloro-1,8-naphthaloylene-1',2'-benzimidazole and 2-(methylamino)-ethanol at a yield of 82%.

2. Production of 4/5- N-methyl-N-(2-sty-4-ryldimethylsilyloxyethyl)amino-1,8-naphthoylene-1',2'-benzimidazole (30)

In a similar manner to the method described in Example 1, point 2, the styrene derivative (30) is obtained at a yield of 83% starting from 4/5-(N-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl)amino-1,8-naphthoylene-1',2'-benzimidazole of the formula (29) and 5-(chlorodimethylsilyl)styrene (25).

3. Production of Copolymer (31), in Which x=1 Mol. %, y=99 Mol. %

In a similar manner to the method described in Example 1, point 3, 2.8 g (89% of theoretical) of copolymer (31) may be produced from 0.16 g (0.32 mmol) of 4/5- N-methyl-N-(2-sty-4-ryldimethylsilyloxyethyl)amino-1,8-naphthoylene-1',2'-benzimidazole (30), 3 g (29 mmol) of styrene and a total of 60 mg (0.36 mmol) of AIBN with toluene as the solvent. 

We claim:
 1. Process for the production of (co)polymers which contain at least one repeat chain unit of the general formula (1) or (2) and optionally repeat units of the general formula (3), ##STR47## in which R¹, R² and R³ mutually independently mean hydrogen or C₁ -C₆ alkyl,M denotes CN or C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ (di)alkylaminocarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, which may each be substituted by hydroxy or C₁ -C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, and furthermore denotes phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, pyridyl or carbazolyl which may each be substituted by residues selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, silyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ -acyloxy and C₁ -C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, L¹ and L² each denote a photoluminescent residue, wherein the proportion of structural units of the formulae (1) and/or (2) is in each case 0.5 to 100 mol. % and of (3) is 0 to 99.5 mol. % and the molar percentages add up to 100, wherein the monomers of the formula (20) or (21) ##STR48## are produced from a fluorescent dye functionalised with an OH group, which dye contains the structure of L¹ or L², and from a styrene or acrylic acid derivative of the formula (22) or (23) ##STR49## in which R¹ and R² have the above-stated meaning and R⁴¹ and R⁴² denote halogen, in the presence of a base and the monomers are then polymerised, optionally in the presence of comonomers of units according to the formula (3).
 2. A method of using (co)polymers which contain at least one repeat chain unit of the general formula (1) or (2) and optionally repeat units of the general formula (3), ##STR50## in which R¹, R² and R³ mutually independently mean hydrogen or C₁ -C₆ alkyl,M denotes CN or C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ (di)alkylaminocarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, which may each be substituted by hydroxy or C₁ -C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, and furthermore denotes phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, pyridyl or carbazolyl which may each be substituted by residues selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, silyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ -acyloxy and C₁ -C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, L¹ and L² each denote a photoluminescent residue, wherein the proportion of structural units of the formulae (1) and/or (2) is in each case 0.5 to 100 mol. % and of (3) is 0 to 99.5 mol. % and the molar percentages add up to 100, wherein said (co)polymers are disposed between two electrodes contained in an electroluminescent arrangement.
 3. An electroluminescent arrangement which contains (co)polymers which contain at least one repeat chain unit of the general formula (1) or (2) and optionally repeat units of the general formula (3), ##STR51## in which R¹, R² and R³ mutually independently mean hydrogen or C₁ -C₆ alkyl,M denotes CN or C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ (di)alkylaminocarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, which may each be substituted by hydroxy or C₁ -C₆ alkoxycarbonyl, and furthermore denotes phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, pyridyl or carbazolyl which may each be substituted by residues selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, silyl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkyl, C₆ -C₁₈ aryl, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁ -C₃₀ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₃₀ -acyloxy and C₁ -C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, L¹ and L² each denote a photoluminescent residue, wherein the proportion of structural units of the formulae (1) and/or (2) is in each case 0.5 to 100 mol. % and of (3) is 0 to 99.5 mol. % and the molar percentages add up to 100, as the electroluminescent substance.
 4. An electroluminescent arrangement according to claim 3, containing two electrodes, between which is located an electroluminescent layer wherein the electroluminescent layer contains the (co)polymers and further wherein one or more interlayers may be optionally arranged between the electroluminescent layer and the electrodes. 